A contentious and sprawling legal battle over Rivian’s planned electric vehicle factory an hour east of Atlanta is poised to return to court Wednesday with new — and potentially unprecedented — stakes at play.

The state and a local development authority are seeking more than $540,000 in legal fees accumulated in two unsuccessful lawsuits filed by six Morgan County property owners who challenged the factory’s zoning.

The agencies say they’re trying to recoup the taxpayer-funded litigation costs for what they called frivolous lawsuits intended to delay construction. The residents say their lawsuits raised legitimate legal concerns , arguing the request for legal fees is merely government intimidation.

Governments have a right to pursue litigation costs in Georgia when lawsuits are dee

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